OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate procalcitonin and high sensitive c-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) patients and assess their correlations with the clinical prognosis.

MATERIALS and METHODS: Twenty-three ISSNHL patients were included in the study (group A). The control group was consisted of 19 patients (group B). Procalcitonin and hs-CRP levels were compared between the groups. The relationship between procalcitonin and hs-CRP levels and the configuration of the audiogram, degree of hearing loss [partial or total (>90 dB)], and status of improvement (improvement of >15 dB in the first month PTA) were evaluated.

RESULTS: The mean age was 47.91±15.73 years (range 21–73 years) and 35.16±15.67 years (range 19–79 years) in groups A and B, respectively. Seven patients (30.4%) had underlying cardiovascular risk factors. Mean procalcitonin levels were 0.057±0.025 µg/L and 0.041±0.016 µg/L in groups A and B, respectively. Mean hs-CRP levels were 0.461±1.335 mg/dL and 0.129±0.125 mg/dL in groups A and B, respectively. Procalcitonin levels were significantly higher in group A than in group B (p=0.018). Procalcitonin levels were significantly lower (0.035±0.013 µg/L vs. 0.061±0.025 µg/L) in patients with low-frequency hearing loss (p=0.04). ROC analysis of procalcitonin values revealed that area under the curve was 0.80 (p=0.005). A cut-off procalcitonin level of 0.45 µg/L yielded a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 56.2%.

CONCLUSION: In conclusion, as a proinflammatory marker, procalcitonin levels were higher in ISSNHL patients than in healthy controls. The procalcitonin level was significantly lower in upsloping-type hearing loss patients. This finding could be regarded as an indirect indicator of pathogenesis.